Description
Situated just on the outskirts of Moniatis village, the Dafni-Zaraes-Mazokampos nature trail offers an immersive escape into the Cypriot countryside. This scenic path winds through a lush, verdant landscape, where the canopy of trees and the gentle murmur of a nearby stream create a refreshing oasis. It is an ideal retreat for those seeking tranquility, offering multiple route variations to suit different hiking preferences.
The first option is following the trail under the shade, which is a short distance of around 750 meters one way, which totals up to 1.5 km. The second option is to follow a gravel road right after Option A, making it a circular route and increase the distance to 5.5km. The third and last option is to follow a combination of trail and gravel roads again right after the Option A, until the point C in the map and hike in total 7.6 km. The first two are categorized as easy difficulty while the 3rd route is categorized as moderate.
Table of Contents
Viewpoints
This trail invites walkers into a vibrant green sanctuary, cooled by deep forest shade and the soothing presence of a running stream. More than just a hike, it is a sensory experience designed for relaxation. With a variety of path options available, explorers can tailor their journey through this breathtaking natural haven.
Starting points
The trail is linear and it has its two points accessible by car. The first one is locate at Moniatis village, where the other one is located in the road to Platres. Both locations are described in the GPS map section. However if you want to hike only the short shaded part, then you should go to Moniatis trailhead.
Personal comments
Why is this trail a hidden gem? Have you ever gone through the mountain villages in Cyprus that are not into the forest and think there is nothing special there? Or have you seen people on social media been to places you already have been but found spots that you didn’t? Well, that’s definately one of those cases!
This trail is in a typical village in the beginning of the mountainous area of Limassol and although the location of the trailhead looks nothing fancy, when you enter the trail it is like entering a portal to another dimension or another planet.
It begins with a narrow path under the shade of trees creating a natural arch most of the time, accompanied with the sound of a stream in a lush greenery scenery! The whole route is like an oasis with beautiful bridges and a stream running forming a magical environment.
There are several options on how to do the hike. The first one is short but amazing! The other two combine gravel road that in a cloudy weather will offer really nice views of the nearby forest. So if you are in the area, definitely pay it a visit. Note that the parking is limited from Moniatis side! The other end of the trail, there is parking for a few cars.
Dafni-Zaraes-Mazokampos nature trail information table
| Description | |
| Starting points | Moniatis trailhead: 34.86806, 32.89455 (link) |
| Ending point | Option A,B: – Option C: 34.882, 32.8768 (link) |
| Distance | Option A: 1.5 km (out-and-back) Option B: 5.5 km (out-and-back) Option C: 7.6 km (out-and-back) |
| Difficulty (1 – easy, 2 – moderate, 3 – difficult) | Option A,B: 1 Option C: 2 |
| Trail type | Option A: Linear Option B: Circular Option C: Linear |
| ETA finish time | Option A: 40 minutes Option B: 1.30 hours Option C: 2 hours |
| Elevation Gain/Loss | Option A: 50 metres Option B: 235 metres Option C: 335 metres |
| Maximum Altitude | 855 metres |
Elevation Stats
GPS map
Gallery
5 nearby trails
- Zalakas nature trail
- Milia nature trail
- Moni-Fylagra nature trail
- Millomeris nature trail
- Kalidonia nature trail
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